Hungarian Stamps

Magyar Posta released a four denomination series about nostalgia narrow-gauge railways in 2001, continuing this with two denominations in 2004. Another four denominations are being added to the series now in 2009.

Narrow-gauge railways are railways with a smaller track gauge than the standard 1,435 mm. Today there are still twenty-two railways with a track gauge of 760 mm and two railways with a track gauge of 600 mm, operating according to a timetable in the most beautiful parts of the country on lines with a total length of 390 kilometres.

The Nagybörzsöny Forest Railway (HUF 125 stamp, type MD 40 diesel engine) celebrated its centenary in 2008. The line between Nagybörzsöny–Nagyirtás (8 km) is the upper section of the former Szob–Nagybörzsöny (22 km) narrow-gauge railway. The use of switchbacks at Tolmács Hill and Kisirtás is a technological rarity (the engine pulls then pushes the train). The stamp shows the switchback in Kisirtás. The renovation of the lower section between Szob–Márianosztra (7 km) was completed in 2007, and plans for the rebuilding of the middle section between Márianosztra–Nagyirtás (7 km) have also been drawn up.

The first day cover depicts a train from the Hortobágy Fish Pond Railway with buffalo wallowing in the background. The design of the special postmark shows the type MD 40 diesel engine of the Nagybörzsöny Forest Railway from the side with the switchback. (Source: article by Csaba Károly Tusnádi)